Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“My parents like him,” she says, tucking a piece of her vibrant red hair behind her ear before removing her glasses to wipe them.
I gasp dramatically. “And here I didn’t think your papa could like anyone.”
She covers her smile with her hand as she looks away, a slight blush streaking her cheeks. It’s cute.
“So when’s the wedding?” I joke, and her face goes bright red.
“I don’t think he likes him that much.” It goes without saying that I still don’t think Alek likes him at all, but probably tolerates him. I don’t think that’s because of who he is or what he does for work, but simply because it’s his little girl. It’s the same way I imagine my father would react. The carefree, happy-go-lucky man turns into a prude if he hears about me seeing anyone. Luckily for him, I see a lot of people, so by the time he’s tracked and compiled information on the man of the hour, I’m already on to the next. I’m certain he gave up on threatening them when I was a teenager.
“Any new dates you want to tell me about?” Hope questions curiously. I slurp on the remains of the flavored milk and look at her.
“What do you mean?” I ask. I’m always on a new date, so that shouldn’t be such a surprise.
“Hawke mentioned he saw you on a date,” she says. I roll my eyes, that little gossip.
“He interrupted my date,” I correct as I stand and take my bowl and spoon to the sink. She eyes me and puts her glasses back on. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s just…” She thinks about how to word whatever she wants to say. “I think there’s something between you and my cousin that neither of you is telling me. You two always have a weird challenge thing going on. And he seemed rather smug about ruining your date.”
“Ha! He didn’t ruin my date. I was already planning on leaving. Anyway, he can only wish he had that much control over my actions. There’s nothing between us, either. You know what Hawke’s like; he gets on everyone’s nerves.”
“And yet everyone loves him,” she points out.
“As much as they want to strangle him. Listen, it’s just a little game we play with one another, that’s all. And, besides, he’s your cousin.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s off-limits to you. And I have eyes; I can see how he looks at you.”
I smirk and glance down at my perfect tits. “I can’t blame him. He is but only a man and one who thinks mostly with his dick.”
She smiles. I’m bigger than most girls, with curves, tits, and an ass, and I fucking love my body. Not that I’d ever admit it to Hawke, but I love his body, too. It would appear I’m just better at hiding it than he is.
“If you say so,” she says, still smiling, and I dislike the way she looks all-knowing or as if she’s clued into something I’m not.
Yes, there’s sexual tension between me and Hawke, but it’s not that deep. And she should be so loved up that she can’t focus on anything else. It seems like that’s how everyone else is.
“What do you plan to wear to Dutton’s birthday this weekend?” she asks.
I grin because I’m known for my outfits. My wardrobe is one thing I take great pride in, and if I get the chance to dress either Billie or Hope, I do. Not that there’s anything wrong with their clothes or style. I just always wanted a little sister, and so they humor me. None of us has sisters, so we’ve become sisters for each other, especially growing up together.
“Who said I’m going?” I ask mischievously.
She raises a perfectly manicured brow. “Since when have you ever not gone to a party? And, besides, Dutton might’ve invited some interesting men.”
I try to hide the smile as I walk back over to her. She does know me well enough, and these last few weeks, I’ve been striking out on the men front.
“I’ll consider it. Are you bringing your detective?” I’m asking for selfish reasons. If no men grab my attention, then the potential tension of having a dirty cop in a room full of criminals interests me greatly.
“No, he’s working.”
“And he can’t take time off for this?”
“He said he would, but I’m still not comfortable with it all,” she admits, and my bubbling anticipation of the drama recedes because I see how anxious she is. She might’ve found her man and is enjoying their love bubble, but outside of that, in the real world, relationships look complicated.
I rest my arm over her shoulders and give her a reassuring smile. “Your family accepts him, and you know that says a lot,” I remind her. She lets out a shaky breath and gives me a half smile, putting me at ease that I reassured her slightly. Hope, despite being a serial killer, is a good girl. A little morbid, maybe, but her heart is in the right place when it comes to her family. However, her social awkwardness and introverted ways, get the best of her, which is why we balance each other because I am the party, no matter where I go.